'Jonagold Boerekamp' Early Queen® is a Jonagold mutant which was found in 1986, in the orchard of Mr. J. Boerekamp in Someren-The Netherlands. For this mutant, plant breeders rights were claimed in 1992, and obtained in 1997. Early Queen® is a very early colouring Jonagold. Every year the apples are ripe to be picked in the first half of September. The early colouring combined with an excellent texture makes ' Jonagold Boerekamp' Early Queen® an apple with unprecedented possibillities.

Growth
Early Queen® has been found in a virus-free plantation of Jonagold 2381. Also Early Queen® is virus-free.

Production
The production of Jonagold Boerekamp'Early Queen® is at the same level as that of standard Jonagold or other virus-&ee mutants.

Appearance
Fruit of Jonagold Boerekamp'Early Queen® already has its bright red colour in the beginning of September. Up to the heart of the tree the apples have 70-80% blush on a green background. Nearly all the fruit can be picked in one time. Also with really full trees all the fruit will colour well. On the peel you can clearly see the white lenticells. Early Queen® is a stable mutant. On the fruit no chimerae can be found.

Taste
Early exploratory measures have proved that both sugar-and acidlevel as well as the firmness of Jonagold Boerekamp Early Queen® are at a higher level than those of other Jonagold mutants. This is what makes Early Queen® a qualitatively eminent Jonagold.

Picking time
At the orchard of the finder appr. 90% of the Early Queen® apples have always been picked about 10th september during the past few years. Other Jonagold could, in the same orchard, only be picked 14 days later on the average. Because of the early ripening Early Queen® can be offered to the consumer as an early fruit.

Fruitsize
The early picking and the high production lead to the fact that a high percentage of the fruit has got the ideal size of 75-85 mm.

Storage
Early Queen® is excellently fit to be kept for a long time. The past few years have proved that, even after a long period of storage, the fruit has a fine display-time, firmness and taste.